Merried

Ah, November… With Thanksgiving around the corner, this time of year is a great opportunity to look around and appreciate those people that you are truly grateful for. We are totally feeling that thankful spirit and want to sing the praises of Kristen Grantham, the grease that keeps the wheels moving at The Vow Exchange!

If you have ever come in for a visit or attended a wedding with us, chances are very high that you have had the good fortune to meet Kristen, our resident go-getter. She is truly a dynamo: kind, full of energy and smiles, and one of the most versatile ladies you will ever encounter. We are endlessly grateful to have her on The Vow Exchange team and so proud to be able to tell you all about her.

Q: First, can you tell us a little about your background?

I was born and raised in the KC metro; Raymore to be exact. A few years back I thought about moving to Denver with my my boyfriend, Josh. We thought it would be more bustling, yet still midwestern. Instead, we tried moving to a new place here in town. We went from our quiet place near Grandview, to a cool loft apartment in the middle of downtown Kansas City. We loved it there and realized that KC was all the bustling city we needed.

I have worked since I was 15. My first job was at Tropical Sno, a sno cone company. I have been working pretty much around the clock ever since. Now, I am kind of a workaholic.

Q: What would you say is your favorite part of your job?

I can’t really choose a favorite, because every part is amazing. I have different favorites on different days. Today I love that I am meeting with couples and reviewing our couples’ photo galleries. I love to see the couples who I worked with on their wedding day, but when I am reviewing the galleries, I also get to peek in on all of the couples who I didn’t work with and see their events. Then I get to share all of those beautiful photos with the world!

Q: So, it sounds like you have lots of jobs here? Tell me more…

Well… I am in charge of maintenance and venue cleaning. I order all of our supplies and prep the spaces for all of our events. I get the songs ready on our iPad for the ceremonies, get the platters delivered for our reception packages and make the flags and other crafty items we have at our weddings that make them extra special.

I also meet with couples and help them find their perfect package and show them our beautiful venues.

Oh, and I do all of our photo gallery review and delivery. And, I am a contributor for Merried. That is my favorite lately. The icing on the cake is that I also get to work at our weddings as a host! From a short and sweet little 30 minute mini ceremony to a longer Bottles & Bites reception where I get to spend the whole evening with the couple and put on a full-fledged party.

Q: Is there a Vow Exchange couple who left a life long impression with you?

There totally, totally is! Curt and Maddie. They were the very first “reception” event that we ever did! That is when I realized that what we did was such a unique celebration for people. That was the first time I had ever cut the cake and managed the first dance. Even though you don’t NEED those things to make a wedding complete, it was great to be part of those old wedding traditions in the modern day. Also, I loved how Curt and Maddie’s little girl was involved in the ceremony as they started a new family together! Her life is forever changed because of Curt and Madeline’s wedding.

Also, Lauren and Dalton’s wedding was really sentimental for me. I had just gone to back to back funerals for my family so I was feeling very emotional. I knew that the bride had just gone through something similar herself with her family. At the wedding, I could tell that Lauren was just so happy to be married and to have Dalton in her life for good. He was the rock for her that day and now for the rest of their lives. She is just leaning into him and you can really fell what I felt that day, just from that picture. And also her dress was my dream dress… and her and her bridesmaids wore black leather jackets! So cool!

Q: What's something that excites you about the future?

Probably hosting and seeing more weddings at The Chapel at Heritage Hall! I had a big part in painting and working on the new space. My blood sweat and tears are in that place and being able to host there will give me a real sense of pride and completion. That space has such a modern yet timeless look and I just can’t wait to see it in action more!

Q: Who is your favorite fictional couple?

Oooh, I have two! I would say first is Lucy and Ricky! I grew up watching I Love Lucy. I loved that they were both a real AND a fictional couple. Their real behind the scenes relationship makes their on screen relationship more authentic, I mean the show is called “I LOVE LUCY”! It is literally about their relationship. The fact that he is so supportive no matter what kooky, crazy things she wants to do makes them both that much more lovable. The fact that she was always trying to do something revolutionary and push the limits - that was totally Lucille Ball in real life.

And then… the couple from Gilmore Girls, Luke and Lorelei. I love the “will they or won’t they” across the whole series. You always know they will, but they keep the question alive and that is part of the fun. They have a very good platonic as well as a romantic relationship and I really think a good relationship needs to have both.

Warner Bros. Television / Via Netflix

Q: What about your favorite real life couple?

Oh that would be my grandparents. They are sort of old fashioned in that they don’t really express their feelings. They are very much a couple that does not get sappy or speak about it all the time. They show their love through teasing each other. As my grandpa gets older he makes his feelings more known. I think the perfect way he showed his love was after they were in a car accident together recently. They were both in the hospital recovering but were in separate rooms and not able to see each other. He would write her notes and send them to her and she would write back. They couldn’t see each other, but they obviously missed each other and really needed to communicate.

Q: What hobby consumes a bunch of your free time?

Movies! I am a cinephile. My favorite genre is called “mumblecore”; just indie movies about people living their everyday lives. I really like watching realistic characters that remind of people in real life. You can always find me at the Alamo Drafthouse!

Oh!! And PODCASTS! Podcasts, podcasts, podcasts! There’s a quote I really like: “I am walking down the street listening to a podcast while thinking about another podcast.” That describes my life to a T. I like everything from true crime to news to movie podcasts - you know, podcasts about movies!

Kristen with Josh, her boyfriend of 7 years.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote about life or love?

“And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.” It’s the last song on the last album that was recorded by all four Beatles. I think it sums up perfectly the meaning of life - to love and be loved. That is what The Vow Exchange is all about…the celebration of that love. Love is hard to find, dang it, and when you find it it deserves to be celebrated!!